As we noted yesterday, UFC star Conor McGregor and his team stormed a UFC 223 media event being held at The Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NYC, and the chaos resulted in one UFC star being taken to the hospital after McGregor attacked a bus filled with fighters.
According to MMAFighting.com, Conor McGregor and SBG teammate Cian Cowley were arrested in New York late Thursday night following the Barclays Center incident, and McGregor faces three counts of assault and one count of criminal mischief. McGregor reportedly turned himself over to police as he was wanted for questioning related to the incident.
McGregor will head to court on Friday to face his charges.
We also noted that UFC President Dana White spoke to the media following the incident, and in addition to feeling McGregor will go to jail, he noted the following to MMAJunkie.com, via NBCNewYork.com:
“They started to attack the buses, throwing trash cans and dollies and things like that — broke one of the windows and cut Michael Chiesa really bad. He cut his head, he cut his face,” said White, adding that other people were injured.
“Obviously everybody’s shaken up… this is the most disgusting thing that’s ever happened in the history of this company,” White said.
“It’s disgusting,” he said. “I don’t think anyone’s going to be a huge Conor McGregor fan after this.”
While McGregor’s motives for storming the Barclay’s Center remain unclear, police sources told the New York Post they believe the incident may have been a “publicity stunt” ahead of UFC 223.
Below is UFC’s full statement on the Conor McGregor incident:
“During today’s media event at Barclays Center to promote ‘UFC 223: Khabib vs. Holloway,’ Conor McGregor and Artem Lobov entered the building accompanied by over a dozen individuals.
“The group, which included McGregor and Lobov, vandalized the vehicle that contained a number of athletes competing at the event taking place this weekend. NYPD was immediately alerted and is currently in the process of investigating the situation. UFC is working very closely with the New York Athletic Commission, Barclays Center security and law enforcement authorities. All parties are working together to ensure the highest standard of proper safety precautions are implemented to protect the fans and athletes.
“The organization deems today’s disruption completely unacceptable and is currently working on the consequences that will follow. Immediately, Lobov has been removed from this weekend’s card and individuals involved in the incident are not welcome at tomorrow’s ceremonial weigh-in or Saturday’s event at Barclays Center.”
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Conor McGregor. Picks up guard rail. Attempts to throw it at bus. ABSOLUTE CHAOS IN NEW YORK. #UFC223 (Via Felice Herrig’s IG story) pic.twitter.com/JYQZD7jtKP
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) April 5, 2018